Sarpanch injures RTI applicant, kills kin

Fatehabad (Agencies): A village sarpanch allegedly killed a woman when she tried to rescue her father-in-law, who tried to unveil a pension scam with the help of RTI Act.

The village head made an attempt to crush Jagdish, RTI applicant, under the wheels at village Chandrawal near Bhuna in this district.

A local court has ordered registration of a case against the village sarpanch and 13 others following efforts made by two RTI applicants in unearthing the scam.

Phool Singh and Jagdish, residents of village Chandrawal, had unearthed bunglings in disbursment of pension by using RTI applications and had filed a case of alleged fraud against the accused in the court.

A court had ordered registration of a case against the 14 accused.

Sarpanch Dharambir Malik, District Social Welfare Officer and Naib Tehsildar (revenue official) of Bhuna were allegedly found to be the main culprits behind the fraud, police sources said.

On Thursday, the sarpanch allegedly used a multi-utility vehicle (MUV) in an effort to crush Jagdish under the wheels when the latter was sitting outside his house.

Jagdish's legs were crushed and when his daugter-in-law tried to come to his rescue, the attackers did not spare her and crushed her too. She succumbed to her injuries at a hospital later.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Shamsher Singh Dahiya, a murder case has been registered against Dharmbir Malik, his driver Satbir Singh and three others.